what is sruthi?write in detail about the 22 shrutis in karnatic music.

-- sharanya ganeshan (sharanya_07@hotmail.com), December 29, 2002

Answers

Human vocal chord normally permits controlled and trained sway of notes (Swaras) stretching a maximum of 2.5 octaves. For example, from the effortless normal / natural Swara of a person (considering the point as Sa, one can go about one octave lower and rise one and half octave higher. The natural Swara "Sa" can be anything between English Notes white key C(1) through B(7).

Shruti (or drone) in music is a reference note of sound that allows the performer(s) to take off from and wander around within the permissible range of notes (Swaras) over Arohanam and Avarohanam.

In Indian classical singing, false higher pitch sounds are not normally permitted, though an occasional performer render his expertise to the audience. Considering this, there are :

C(1), C#(1.5), D(2), D#(2.5), E(3), F(4), F#(4.5), G(5), G#(5.5), A(6), A#(6.5), b(7).

The performer may refer only one of the above notes as his Sruti. Taking into consideration all the different ragas available under the classical structure, one can find most ragas having minimum two notes that can be depended upon for reference. Thus, Sa and Ma, or Sa and Pa or Sa and Ga or in rare cases Sa and Ri can be played together to get a suitable drone support.

Thus using C(1) to B(7) with a permissible combination of any of the above double notes, it makes available 22 Srutis for the performer.

Normally a performer may notbe able to perform in more than 6 srutis.

Krisshnan

-- E.S. Krisshnan (krisshna@vsnl.com), February 24, 2003.

Dear madam, I think sruthi is the string that decides which pitch we select,the position of each swaras. That is the resonance or the mingiling of basic platform swaras-sa& pa. This is the definition for our sruthi from an instrument or box. From my little knowledge, I say in encient days our saints had known more than 80 sruthis. They devided the same platform-I mentioned earlier to 80 divisions. That shows their keen attention and concentration. Now we only know 20 different positions in the platform or base. In these some are repetitions, but Re(3),Ga(3)etc. But they show their beauty in the combinations-in the ragas. I try to conclude, these are the positions(in case of 20 sruthis) between a decided band, that band is builted by the base-Sa and the resonanant swaras like Pa and Upper Sa. Now a days we say sruthi means this resonance only. This is my answer. I have studied music for 3.5 years. Because of my work I couldnot continue. Now also I desire to study and research in that. But I cannot. I studied theory by reading some books. It may be false. Now I am working in Bahrain in an industry. But if I get time or chance I try to study music. Thank you for the question . Because I got some time to think of music and refresh my least theory knowledge. Yours lovingly, JOSHY GEORGE FROM KERALA.

-- JOSHY GEORGE (jgtech2003@yahoo.com), July 23, 2003.